According to Cabinet Resolution No. 48 of 2023, federal employees who choose to work 10 hours per day are entitled to a three-day weekend. Multiple work schedules have been established in the resolution, which establishes the executive rules of Federal Decree-Law No. 49 of 2022 on human resources in the federal government, and which will take effect on July 1.
The new Human Resources legislation seeks to provide adaptable work arrangements that advance government competences and help create a future-proof system for managing human resources. The law, which focuses on creating a stimulating and supportive work environment for government employees, seeks to adapt to the recent changes in the workplace that have occurred over the past few years, thereby increasing the legislative flexibility of the government HR system through the ongoing updating of regulations and policies.
According to Article 2 of the executive rules of the legislation, an employee who works 10 hours per day and four days per week is entitled to a three-day weekend since he works long hours as part of the compressed work week model of employment. The laws include part-time working hours of 8 to 32 hours per week and working days during weekly working days of one to four days per week.
The five work models listed below are used to appoint federal government personnel, according to Article 9 of the HR law's executive regulations:
1. Work from the office
In accordance with this work arrangement, the employee is designated to carry out his assigned duties during the designated working days and hours, either from the employer's headquarters or one of its branches.
2. Remote work from outside the country
The employee must perform work-related duties from outside the nation and will be paid in accordance with the law.
3. Work remotely from within the UAE
According to the requirements of the Remote Work Law, which was approved by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, the employee will be required to work or execute his job tasks outside of the office but inside the nation, and will be paid in accordance with the law.
4. Hybrid work
Employees that use the hybrid work paradigm combine office and remote work. The candidate is hired to execute some of his job duties in the office and some of them remotely, with the option of combining more than one of the other forms of work.
5. Intensive working hours (compressed work week)
The employee works four days a week, up to a maximum of 10 hours per day, for the full official weekly working hours he needs.
The four different categories of employment recognized by the new HR law are:
- Full-time employment
- Part-time employment
- Temporary employment
- Flexible employment
At the employee's request and at the employer's discretion, the employee's work model may be changed from part-time to full-time or vice versa, provided that the transfer is for the same job and grade and that the grade's pay is available. A person hired on a part-time basis is permitted to work for more than one federal agency or for both the federal government and another municipal or private organization.
